President Biden delivers remarks after touring the Ford Rouge Electric Facility
I DECIDED NO BREAD LET'S TURN THE NATION'S BIGGEST BROWNFIELD SITE INTO THE GREATEST PLANT IN THE COUNTRY. TODAY I AM PROUD THE ROUGE HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A STATE- OF-THE-ART MANUFACTURING SITE AND A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE AND HIGH TECH MANUFACTURING. I AM ALSO REALLY PROUD THAT THE ROUGE WILL BE HOME TO THE NEW ELECTRIC F150. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, OUR BIG REVEAL IS TOMORROW NIGHT, BUT GIVEN THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TODAY WE WANTED TO GIVE HIM AS THE PREVIEW. THE MOST POPULAR VEHICLE IN AMERICAN HISTORY IS GOING ELECTRIC, DIGITAL AND IT IS AWESOME. FOR MORE THAN 44 YEARS, THE F150 HAS BEEN THE BACKBONE AFFORD ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IT HAS BEEN A TRUSTED ICON FOR GENERATIONS.
NOW, WE ARE REVOLUTIONIZING IT FOR A NEW GENERATION AS WE PROGRESS TOWARDS A ZERO EMISSION AND DIGITAL FUTURE. FOR BOTH AFFORD, AND THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY, THE F150 LIGHTNING REPRESENTS A DEFINING MOMENT. IT USHERS IN A CLEANER FUTURE FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE CANNOT WAIT TO SHARE THE WHOLE STORY WITH THE WORLD TOMORROW NIGHT. MR. PRESIDENT, AS YOU WORK TOWARDS A FUTURE THAT IS MORE SUSTAINABLE, AND MADE IN AMERICA, FORD IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO REBUILDING THE NATION'S ROADS AND BRIDGES, ESTABLISHING A NETWORK OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS, AND INVESTING IN THE KIND OF CLEAN ENERGY MANUFACTURING THAT WE ARE PIONEERING RIGHT HERE AT FORD. THIS COMPANY IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, BUILT FOR AMERICA. WE MAKE MORE VEHICLES AND EMPLOY MORE HOURLY WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES THAN ANY OTHER AUTOMAKER. TODAY, THE ROUGE EMPLOYS 7300 PEOPLE AND WILL CONTINUE THAT COMMITMENT BY CREATING AN ADDITIONAL 500 JOBS AT THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CENTER. THIS IS THE POWER OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING AND THE POWER OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ROUGE AND OF THE FORD FAMILY. IT IS HOW WE REDEFINE THE FUTURE BY STAYING TRUE TO OUR VALUES AND DESIRES ARE THE WAY WE ARE.
SO QUICKLY LAST YEAR TO CREATE VENTILATORS AND ESCALATORS RESPIRATORS DURING THE PANDEMIC. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT FOR COMING TODAY AND YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR INDUSTRY AND OUR INCREDIBLE WORKFORCE.
I KNOW THE SECRET SERVICE MAY NOT WANT YOU TO DRIVE YOURSELF, BUT IF YOU COULD WIN THEM OVER YOUR WELCOME TO TAKE THE F150 LIGHTNING FOR SPIN. I PROMISE IT WILL GIVE YOUR CORVETTE A RUN FOR ITS MONEY. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP A FRIEND OF MINE AND GREAT LEADER, RORY GAMBLE, PRESIDENT OF UAW. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE TODAY TO SHARE THIS GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE DEARBORN TRUCK PLANT. YOU GUYS ARE SUPPOSED TO TO CLAP.>> [ APPLAUSE ]>> I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS TODAY, LOCAL 600 PRESIDENT, BERNIE RICKY. ED STEVE ZAVALA REPRESENTING YOUR W-4 DEPARTMENT.
MY DEAR FRIEND, REGIONAL DIRECTOR CHUCK BROWNING AND HIS A.D., LAURA DICKERSON. AND ALL KIND OF FOLKS WHO HAVE JOINED US ON THIS JOURNEY SO MANY TIMES, I CANNOT LIST THEM ALL BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF IF I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE CONGRESSWOMAN DEBBIE DINGELL, CONGRESSWOMAN LINDA LAWRENCE, CONGRESSWOMAN RASHIDA TLAIB. SHE IS LIKE THE MORAL COMPASS, IF IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO GET SET RIGHT ON. WHEN THE PHONE RINGS I SAY LORD HAVE MERCY. HERE IT COMES. SHE IS A DEAR FRIEND.
THANK YOU. THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR ME. I HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS MY ENTIRE CAREER AND I WAS ELECTED OFFICER AT THE LOCAL, ALONG WITH BERNIE RICKY, PRETTY MUCH WHEN THE ROUGE SITE WAS GONE FOR OUR DEMISE, SOME IN THE COMPANY CALLED THIS A MUSEUM AND THEY REFERRED TO THE OFFICERS OF THE LOCAL AS THE CURATORS OF THE MUSEUM. WE WERE PART OF NEGOTIATIONS, IT CHAMPIONED VERY AGGRESSIVELY.
AT THE TIME WE WERE DYING ON THE VINE. NOW WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU ARE OUT OF THE EFFORTS OF GREAT TEAMWORK BETWEEN UAW AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THIS IS WHAT TEAMWORK CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH BUILDING WORLD- CLASS VEHICLES THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF AMERICA. AND THAT ARE READY FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY WOULD BRING FOR US ALL. AT THE SAME TIME PROTECTING GOOD PAYING AMERICAN JOBS AND THE WORKERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO UNIONIZE AND HAVE A VOICE IN THE WORKPLACE. I WANT TO THANK THE GREAT UAW FORD TEAM, AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHEN I WORKED ERA WAS THE DAP.
AT THE TIME WE HAD A SAYING THAT WHEN YOU GET ON THE JOB, GET YOUR HEAD DOWN AND YOUR UP . MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE DEARBORN TRUCK PLANT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THAT AND YOU SET EXAMPLES FOR MANY TO FOLLOW. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.>> [ APPLAUSE ]>> PLEASE WELCOME UNITED AUTO WORKER MEMBERS FROM THE FOUR DEARBORN TRUCK PLANT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ANGELA POWELL AND I WORK HERE AT THE DEARBORN TRUCK PLANT AS A FORKLIFT OPERATOR. I CANNOT BELIEVE I AM STANDING HERE TODAY. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR AND I AM DEEPLY HUMBLED TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I FEEL SO BLESSED. A PRESIDENT, WHO IN JUST OVER 100 DAYS, HAS GOTTEN OUR PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL.
A PRESIDENT, WHO JUST UNDER 100 DAYS, LEFT NO AMERICAN FAMILIES BEHIND IN HIS RESCUE PLAN. A PRESIDENT WHO SUPPORTS WORKERS LIKE ME AND MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS EACH AND EVERY DAY BY PASSING IT, AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WILL BUILD OUR FUTURE AND FACTORIES LIKE THIS ONE HERE IN THE HISTORIC ROUGE. A PRESIDENT WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT IN ORDER FOR THE FUTURE TO WORK FOR US ALL, AMERICAN WORKERS CANNOT BE FORGOTTEN, OR LEFT BEHIND IN THIS TRANSITION TO THE FUTURE.
FUTURE JOBS NEED TO BE WELL PAYING UNION JOBS WITH BENEFITS. HAVING A GOOD PAYING UNION JOBS HAS MEANT A LOT TO ME AND MY FAMILY. MOST OF ALL, A PRESIDENT WHO LOVES THE CARS WE BUILD.
A PRESIDENT WHO CAME HERE TO CS UNVEILED THE FORD F150 LIGHTNING, WHICH WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF. IT IS MY PLEASURE, ON BEHALF OF MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS HERE AT THE DEARBORN TRUCK PLANT, LOCAL 600, AND ALL OF UAW MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, JOSEPH R BIDEN. >> MY NAME IS JOE BIDEN AND I AM A CAR GUY. PLEASE SIT DOWN. I GOT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE BECAUSE MY DAD RAN AN AGENCY. I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.
I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE UP FRONT. I AM STANDING HERE BECAUSE ABOUT 180 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE SENATE, THE UAW ELECTED ME. WE USED TO HAVE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF AUTOWORKERS IN THE NATION BECAUSE WE HAD A SMALL WORKFORCE INTO GIANT PLANTS, PLUS A FEW OTHER THINGS GOING ON. SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU.
AND I WANT TO THANK A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, MICHIGAN GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER. AS YOUR MOTHER WOULD SAY, GOD LOVE YOU DEAR, YOU HAVE A BACKBONE LIKE A RAMROD, A BRAIN AS BIG AS ANYBODY IN THE BUSINESS, AND YOU ARE SO HONORABLE. IT IS A DELIGHT TO KNOW YOU, IT IS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, I WILL COME CAMPAIGN FOR OR AGAINST YOU, NO MATTER WHAT. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ANGELA, WE WERE TALKING BACKSTAGE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRUCK, I WANT TO THANK HER VERY MUCH FOR BEING SO GRACIOUS AND RORY, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NEW TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT BUT YOU ARE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
WHERE IS RORY? THANK YOU HOW. AND EVERYONE OF YOU AT THE UAW FOR BEING THE BEST AUTOWORKERS IN THE WORLD. AND I WANT TO THANK FORD FOR HOSTING US AND INVESTING IN OUR WORKERS AND OUR COUNTRY.
WE ARE AT A GREAT INFLECTION POINT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. HOW WE HANDLE THE NEXT FOUR TO 10 YEARS WILL DETERMINE WHERE WE WILL BE 30 OR 40 OR 50 YEARS FROM NOW. IT IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY, DEBBIE DINGELL, ANOTHER DEAR FRIEND, I KNOW JOHN IS LOOKING DOWN AND SAYING WE'RE FINALLY GETTING IT DONE. AND REPRESENTATIVE DAN KILBY AND REPRESENTATIVE LINDA LAWRENCE.
AND BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO REPRESENTATIVES OF OCKEN. SHE KNOWS MORE THAN YOU. I TEASE HER ALL THE TIME. SHE IS A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CONGRESS. AND WHERE IS RASHIDA TLAIB? I WANT TO SAY TO YOU THAT I ADMIRE YOUR INTELLECT AND YOUR PASSION AND I ADMIRE YOUR CONCERN FOR SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AND FROM MY HEART I PRAY YOUR GRANDMOM AND YOUR FAMILY, I PROMISE I WILL SEE HOW EVERYTHING THEY ARE ON THE WEST BANK, YOU ARE A FIGHTER AND THANK GOD YOU ARE A FIGHTER.
ELLIE STEVENS I THINK YOU. AND ALSO JIM O'REILLY FROM DEARBORN FOR A PASSPORT INTO THE CITY, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. AND MY BUDDY, MIKE DUGGAN, HE IS MY MAYOR. I WAS SITTING IN THE OVAL WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA WHEN I WAS VICE PRESIDENT, AND HE SAID BY THE WAY, I WANT YOU TO GO TO DETROIT.
I SAID SAY THAT AGAIN? HE SAID HE ANYBODY THE GOVERNMENT TO GO WITH YOU, JUST DO IT DID THE FIRST CALL THAT I MADE WAS THIS GUY DID YOU BROUGHT IT UP OFF ITS KNEES AND BROUGHT IT BACK, YOU ARE A GREAT MAYOR AND A GREAT FRIEND AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF COURAGE MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. TWO GREAT FRIENDS, DEBBIE AND GARRETT, WHO CANNOT BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY ARE BACK FIGHTING LIKE FOR THIS INDUSTRY AND FOR THIS STATE AND FOR LABOR . LABOR INDUSTRY AND FEDERAL AND STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS, ALTOGETHER IS AMERICA AT ITS BEST. THAT IS WHAT I ADMIRE ABOUT WHAT FORD IS DOING HERE.
SO EVERYTHING THE HISTORIC COMPLEX REPRESENTS, I HOPE IT GETS MODELED AROUND THE COUNTRY. IT IS ABOUT RESPECT AND DIGNITY, THE DIGNITY OF WORK. I DAD USED TO SAY JOE, I SWEAR TO GOD WHEN HE LEFT SCRANTON WHEN COAL DIED, MY DAD WAS A SALESPERSON AND NOT A COALMINER, MY GREAT GRANDPA WAS, BUT HE SAID WHEN HE USED IT SAY WHEN HE MOVED TO DELAWARE HE GOT A LEAD WHEN THERE WERE NO JOBS AND LEFT GRANDPA FOR LITTLE OVER A YEAR.
HE COMMUTED BACK AND FORTH FROM WILMINGTON, DELAWARE TO SCRANTON OVER THE WEEKENDS AND THEN WE GOT BACK DOWN TO WILMINGTON, AND HE USED TO SAY TO US, AND I WAS GOING INTO THIRD GRADE BACK THEN, HE WOULD SAY JOE, REMEMBER I MEAN THIS SINCERELY, A JOB IS ABOUT A LOT MORE THAN A PAYCHECK, IT IS ABOUT YOUR DIGNITY. IT IS ABOUT RESPECT, IT IS ABOUT YOUR PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY. I MEAN THIS. IT IS BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT KID IN THE EYE AND SAY HONEY IT WILL BE OKAY. IT ISN'T LABOR, IT IS UNION.
IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HOLD THEIR HEADS UP AND MAKE A DECENT LIVING. AND HAVE PRIDE IN WHAT THEY DO. PRIDE IN WHAT YOU BUILD AND PRIDE IN WHAT YOU GIVE THIS NATION.
I WANT TO BE HERE TODAY BEFORE YOU LAUNCH THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICA'S BEST-SELLING VEHICLE TO THE ENTIRE WORLD TO THANK YOU, THANK YOU HOW YOU SHOW WE WON THE COMPETITION OF THE 21st CENTURY, HOW THE FUTURE WILL BE MADE. IT WILL BE MADE HERE IN AMERICA. MADE IN AMERICA.
I HAVE TO SAY THEM THIS BRINGS ME HOME. FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS MY DAD MOVED TO DELAWARE AND MANAGED AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS INCLUDING A FORD DEALERSHIP. MAN DID I LIKE THAT 57 FORD FAIRLANE. AND GOT NOTHING ON THE F150. BUT ALL KIDDING ASIDE, IT GOT ME THROUGH SCHOOL.
AND YOU KNOW I DOUBT I WOULD EVER CONTRIBUTE $50 BILLION, TO SUPPORT 500,000 AMERICAN JOBS, HAVE THE 1 MILLION AMERICAN JOBS SUPPORTED OVERALL, LIKE THE 150 SERIES. I GOT A TOUR OF THE GROUNDBREAKING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CENTER HERE, ALONG WITH YOUR UAW WORKERS. THEY SHOWED ME THE TECHNOLOGY OF USING THE FIRST EVER FULL ELECTRIC F150.
I WAS ABLE TO SIT IN IT. THEY LET ME SEE IT. I APOLOGIZE TO YOU AT HOME AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT TOMORROW OR UNTIL TOMORROW, BUT YOU WILL LIKE IT. AND I WOULD SURE LIKE TO DRIVE IT.
I WONDER WHETHER OR NOT I COULD LOSE THE SECRET SERVICE AND GO OUT TO THE TRACK. LOOK, THE FUTURE OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS ELECTRIC. THERE IS NO TURNING BACK. AS RORY SAYS THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY IS AT A CROSSROADS. THE REAL QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY WILL LEAD OR FALL BEHIND THE REST OF THE FUTURE, OR WHETHER WE WILL BUILD THESE VEHICLES, AND THE BETTER SLYGO IN THE UNITED STATES, WHETHER THE JOBS TO BUILD THESE VEHICLES AND BATTERIES ARE GOOD PAYING UNION JOBS WITH BENEFITS, JOBS THAT WILL SUSTAIN AND GROW THE MIDDLE- CLASS.
BY THE BEST MINDS IN THE WORLD, BY THOSE WHO BREAK THROUGH NEW BARRIERS. YOU KNOW, IT HAS CHINA, THE LARGEST, FASTEST GROWING ELECTRIC VEHICLE MARKET IN THE WORLD, THE KEY PART OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE IS THE BATTERY. RIGHT NOW 80% OF THE MANUFACTURING CAPACITY IN THOSE BATTERIES IS DONE IN CHINA.
NOT THE BATTERY FOR THE F-150. WE WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA AND TOOK CARE OF. THAT IT ALOSS THEM TO CORNER THE MARKET ON SUPPLIES FOR THOSE BATTERIES, IMPORTING ALMOST ALL LITHIUM, 90% THAT COMES FROM COUNTRIES LIKE AUSTRALIA WHICH LEAD THE WORLD IN MINING THESE KINDS OF CRITICAL MATERIALS. HERE'S THE DEAL.
IT'S NOT THAT CHINA'S BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IS MUCH MORE INNOVATIVE THAN ANYONE ELSES. REMEMBER OUR NATIONAL LABS IN THE UNITED STATES, UNIVERSITIES, AUTO MAKERS LED IN THIS TECHNOLOGY. WE CAN'T LET THEM. REMEMBER I GOT CRITICIZED.
GUESS WHAT, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO SELL AMERICAN MADE CARS AT THE SAME RATE AS BEFORE. WE DIDN'T LISTEN. WE BET ON YOU.
THE AMERICAN AUTO WORKER. WE EXTENDED THE LIFELINE AND STEPPED UP, SAVED MORE THAN A MILLION JOBS. THE AUTO INDUSTRY WILL SET STANDARDS, PROVIDING INSENSITIVES FOR FOLKS TO BUY FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES.
THROUGH THE RECOVERY ACT, MADE THE LARGEST INVEST N. CLEAN ENERGY EVER. THE BIG THREE EMERGED IN THE POSITION TO SELL MILLIONS OF VEHICLES MADE HERE IN THE U.S.A.
THEN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION CAME IN OFFICE. THEY ROLLED BACK THE STANDARDS WE SAID. ROLLED BACK THE FORD MOTOR VEHICLE OPPOSED.
DESPITE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR CONSUMER INCENTIVES. THEY THEY ANNOUNCED INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK AND THEY ANNOUNCED IT AND ANNOUNCED IT AND ANNOUNCED IT EVERY WEEK FOR FOUR YEARS AND DIDN'T DO A THING. THEY DIDN'T GET THE JOB DONE. FOLKS, THE REST OF THE WORLD IS MOVING FAST, MOVING AHEAD, THEY'RE NOT WAITING FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
GOVERNMENT, LABOR, INDUSTRY, WORKING TOGETHER STEPPING UP. WE HAVE A PLAYBOOK THAT WILL WORK. THAT MEANS REVERSING THE SHORT SIDED ROLL BACK OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS AND EFFICIENCY STANDARDS. SENDING STRONG, CLEAR TARGETS WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
RANKED 38th IN THE WORLD. THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR GOD'S SAKE. WE'RE GOING TO PUT AMERICANS TO WORK. THAT INCLUDES PUTTING IBW MEMBERS AND UNION WORKERS TO WORK INSTALLING 50,000 CHARGING STATIONS ALONG OUR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. OUR HOMES AND APARTMENTS. IBW IS READY TO DO IT AND CAN.
TWO, WE'RE GOING TO BOOST OUR MANUFACTURING CAPACITY. THAT'S WHY THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN INVEST IN NEW AND RETOOLED UNION FACILITIES. GRANTS TO KICK START NEW BATTERY AND PARTS PRODUCTION, LOANS AND TAX CREDITS TO BOOST MANUFACTURING OF CLEAN VEHICLES. ALSO MAKES THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN GENERATIONS MANUFACTURING, BILLS, SUPPLY HANES, BATTERIES, SEMI CONDUCTORS AND SMALL COMPUTER CHIPS THAT MAKE ELECTRIC CARS AND TRICKS GO TO BE MORE RELIANT THAN THEY ARE NOW. IT MATTERS.
THE LITTLE THINGS MATTER. IT WAS 83 SOMETHING BIPARTISAN VOTE. THAT'S A GOOD FIRST STEP. YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HERE IN MICHIGAN, THEY KNOW THE VALUE AS WELL AS ANYONE. THEY'RE VITAL IN PUSHING FORWARD THAT BILL AND OTHERS. NEVER AGAIN SHOULD WE BE IN THE SITUATION WE FACED TODAY WITH SEMI CONDUCTOR SHORTAGES.
THE UNITED STATES. CAN'T MANUFACTURE SEMI CONDUCTORS. WE WERE IN THE BEGINNING. YOU KNOW, I THINK SOME PEOPLE THINK I'M TOO PROUD OF WHAT THE UNITED STATES ALWAYS DID AND WHY I GET SO FRUSTRATED WHEN WE SLIDE. I MAKE NO APOLOGIES FOR IT. WE KNOW THESE KIND OF FEDERAL INVESTMENTS WORK.
WITH THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND NASA THAT GOT THE MODERN SEMI CONDUCTOR INDUSTRY ON ITS FEET DECADES AGO. WE STARTED IT. YOUR TAX DOLLARS. OUR OWN DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PIONEERED AND TRANSFORMED WHEN BARACK AND I WERE IN OFFICE. THROUGH THE RECOVERY ACT, GRANTS AND LOANS, BATTERY PRICES DROPPED 80% BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD.
WE NEED THE SAME MIND SET TODAY. HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD. WE HAVE TO WORK TO WORK CONSUMERS AND THESE FLEETS. THAT MEANS NEW PURCHASE INCENTIVES FOR CONSUMERS TO BUY CLEAN VEHICLES LIKE THE ELECTRIC FORD 150, UNION MADE PRODUCT HERE IN AMERICA. ALL THE PIECES MUST BE MADE IN AMERICA. IT MEANS SPURRING DEMAND BY CONVERTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENORMOUS FLEET OF VEHICLES INTO CLEAN VEHICLES AND SUPPORTING ELECTRIC TRANSIT SYSTEMS AND SCHOOL BUSES.
WHEN I GOT ELECTED. >>> I SIGNED EXECKIVE ORDER SAYING WE'RE GOING TO BUY AMERICAN. I GET TO AWARD CONTRACTS IN THE AREA OF 600 LIFE 600-$700 BILLION A YEAR. GUESS WHAT? REPRESENTATIVE KILDE KNOWS.
I'M NOT GETTING GET LETTING A SINGLE COMPANY THAT DOES NOT HIRE AMERICANS, HAVE ALL AMERICAN PARTS AND HAVE SUPPLY CHAIN THAT IS AMERICAN PRODUCT SUPPLY CHAIN. BY THE WAY, THAT'S NOT VIOLATING ANY TRADE AGREEMENT. IT'S BEEN THE LAW SINCE THE 30s. NO ONE HAD THE COURAGE AND NERVE TO INSIST ON IT BEING APPLIED. IT'S NO VIOLATION OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION OR ANYONE ELSE. SPENDING AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS, WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE BY AMERICAN.
THERE'S A LOT OF EXCEPTION INTO THE LAW. YOU CAN GO ABROAD AND GET IT. ANYONE AT THE AGENCY CAN SAY I CAN'T FIND IT HERE, I'M GOING SOMEWHERE. NOT ANYMORE.
THEY'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH THE WHITE HOUSE. NO ONE CAN GIVE THAT EXCEPTION NOW. THERE'S THOUSANDS OF COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT ARE ABLE TO DO SMALL COMPANIES, THREE, FOUR, TEN, 15 PEOPLE WHO CAN SUPPLY THOSE PIECES THEY KNOW THEY CAN COMPETE FOR THEM.
MY BROTHER HAS AN EXPRESSION. A GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER, PLAYED FOR PROVIDENCE, GOOD CLOSE FRIEND. HE'D SAY JOE, YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW HOW TO KNOW.
YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW HOW TO KNOW. WE DON'T LET THE AMERICAN COMPANIES KNOW WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE SMALL. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OFFICE AND FACILITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS NEEDED.
THERE'S ANOTHER PLAY IN THIS PLAYBOOK THAT'S GOING TO OUTCOMPETE OTHER NATIONS. THE BIGGEST WE HAVE, THE AMERICAN WORKER. NOT A JOKE. >> THE FINALIST WORK FORCE IN THE WORLD. IT'S OUR ACE IN THAT DECK.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU WATCHING AT HOME ARE LIKE THE FOLKS I GREW UP IN SCRANTON AND DELAWARE. THEY FEEL LEFT OUT AND LEFT BEHIND. THE INDUSTRY AND ECONOMY IS RAPIDLY CHANGING. I UNDERSTAND IT.
I REALLY DO. WE WILL LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND. NEARLY 90% OF THE JOBS CREATED IN THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN DO NOT REQUIRE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE. 75% DON'T REQUIRE AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE AMERICAN WORKERS WILL BE PREPARED TO COMPETE WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD. LIKE FORD DOES HERE IN DEERBORN.
WHEN WE INFORMS IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE GOING TO BUY AMERICAN PRODUCTS, MATERIALS, SERVICES FOR AMERICAN BUSINESSES, MADE IN AMERICA. WE'LL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENCOURAGE AND PROTECT THE RIGHT OF WORKERS TO UNIONIZE AND COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN. I MET WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN CEOS IN THE MAJOR FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES. WE STARTED OFF AND I SAID I WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH YOU. I'M A UNION GUY. EVERY ONE OF THEM BUT ONE SAID I UNDERSTAND.
BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE REALIZING WHAT MR. FORD REALIZES. YOU'RE THE BEST WORKERS AVAILABLE, THE BEST TRAINED.
YOU'RE THE MOST CAPABLE. YOU SAVE OVER ALL. BOTTOM LINE, AMERICAN JOBS PLAN IS THE BLUE COLLAR BLUEPRINT TO REBUILD AMERICA. WE NEED AUTO MAKERS AND OTHER COMPANIES TO KEEP INVESTING IN AMERICA AND NOT TAKE THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND EXPAND PUBLIC VEHICLES AND PRODUCTION ABROAD. WE NEED YOU TO DEEPEN YOUR PAPER WITH UAW. PAY GOOD WAGES, SUPPORT COMMUNITIES LIKE DEERBORN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A NATION. THE VICE PRESIDENT AND I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN CONGRESS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. WE BELIEVE WE CAN FIND A BIPARTISAN DEAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE DETAILS IN THEIR PROPOSAL THAT COMMIT COUNTER PROPOSAL LATER TODAY OR TOMORROW. WE MADE ONE THING CLEAR, WE'LL COMPROMISE.
DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION. DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION. THE WORLD IS NOT WAITING I SAY FOR A SECOND TIME. I CONCLUDED THIS. LAST MONTH, I KEPT MY COMMITMENT TO CONVENE THE MAJOR ECONOMIES AROUND THE WORLD FROM RUSSIA, CHINA, INDIA, JAPAN, EUROPEAN UNION.
I THINK THERE'S 48 OR 50. ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUES FACING THE WORLD, THE CLIMATE CRISIS. I MADE IT CLEAR AT THE OUTSET AS EACH OF THE FOLKS CAME ON WHAT I LONG BELIEVED.
WHEN I THINK OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS, BEYOND THE DEVASTATION AND HEALTH OF OUR VERY PLANET, I THINK JOBS. I THINK JOBS WHEN I THINK CLIMATE CHANGE. GOOD PAYING UNION JOBS.
I THINK ABOUT THE UAW WORKERS TODAY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE WORLD CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS A CONSENSUS. WE ARE AT AN INFLECTION POINT IN HISTORY THAT ALMOST EVERY MAJOR LEADER IN THE WORLD SPOKE TO IT. IF WE HAVE TO SAVE THE PLANET, WE CAN CREATE MILLIONS OF GOOD PAYING JOBS, GENERATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THED IF FOR PEOPLE HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD. I ALSO WANTED TO PUT THE WORLD ON NOTICE.
AMERICA IS BACK. AMERICA IS BACK. THE COMPETITION OF THE 21st CENTURY, THE FUTURE WILL BE BUILT HERE IN AMERICA. LOOK AT THIS PLAN. WE'RE MOVING, WORKING AGAIN, DREAMING AGAIN.
DISCOVERING AGAIN. WE'VE SHOWN EACH OTHER IN THE WORLD THERE'S NO QUIT IN AMERICA. THERE'S SEARCHLY NO QUIT IN AMERICA. THAT'S NEVER EVER. EVERY TIME I HAVE THESE SOMETIMES KNOCK DOWN DRAG OUT HEADS OF STATE, THEY'LL SAY SOMETHING.
I'LL SAY LOOK, IT'S NEVER BEEN A GOOD BET TO BET AGAINST AMERICA. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THERE'S NOT A SINGLE THING I BELIEVE THERE'S NOT A SINGLE THING, NOTHING BEYOND OUR CAPACITY WHEN WE ACT TOGETHER. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO STARTING WITH ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
MAY GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
2021-05-20 12:26
